תהלים, פרק קי״ט, פסוק ק״נ

The relationship between a person, God, and His teachings operates like a system of opposing forces. Moving closer to one pole inevitably means moving further from the other, creating a sharp contrast between drawing near and pulling away [אבן עזרא]. The primary approach among commentators is that wicked individuals actively choose to cling to evil and abominable schemes. Because wickedness and God's teachings are completely contradictory paths, embracing evil naturally forces a person away from the Torah [רד״ק, מאירי]. These individuals intentionally abandon spiritual teachings so they can join the company of sinners [רש״י], completely giving up any pursuit of the Torah [מצודת דוד]. As they drift further away, they lose sight of the past, ignoring the historical punishments God brought upon earlier sinners, such as the generation of the Flood and Pharaoh [אבן עזרא].

Other perspectives explore different dynamics of this spiritual distance. One view reverses the cause and effect, suggesting that the initial step away from the Torah is what ultimately drags a person into wickedness, often without them even realizing it [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Another angle examines the social bonds formed through this distancing. Typically, wicked individuals have little in common, as each person is absorbed in their own private desires and specific wrongdoings. However, their shared rebellion and mutual rejection of the Torah serve as a powerful unifying force, bringing them together and creating a tight social bond among the wicked [מלבי״ם].

In a surprising contrast, an alternative interpretation views the concept of drawing near as a movement toward God rather than toward evil, highlighting the immense power of repentance. It suggests that even individuals who engaged in the most severe wickedness—sins equivalent to violating all Ten Commandments—and who were completely cut off from the Torah, still have the ability to return. When they conquer their negative urges and return to God out of pure love, they draw so close to Him that their past intentional sins are transformed into merits. Through this profound return, they achieve a spiritual standing even higher than those who have been completely righteous their entire lives [אלשיך].